Rail anchor



1957 I A. BLACKFORD 3,358,926

RAIL ANCHOR 2 Sheets-$heet 1 Filed Jan. 10, 1966 A F G 2 E M4 H INVENTOR WILLIAM A. BLACKFORD I50 lsb BY v M+Zu F G 3 I ATTORNEYS Dec. 19, 1967 w. A. BLACKFORD 3,358,926

RAIL ANCHOR Filed Jan. 10, 1966 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR WILLIAM A. BLACKFORD ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,358,926 RAIL ANCHOR William A. Blackford, 901 Sloat Blvd., San Francisco, Calif. 94132 Filed Jan. 10, 1966, Ser. No. 528,684 4 Claims. (Cl. 238-321) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A rail anchor which includes a body portion consisting of a web and two spaced flanges extending therefrom, an upstanding toe portion extending perpendicularly from the web in a direction opposite the flanges, and a gripping finger consisting of an elbow portion and a terminal portion, the gripping finger being formed integrally with the body portion, the terminal portion of the gripping finger overlying the web and consisting of the web and flanges diverged into substantially a single plane to define a gripping edge.

This invention relates to a one-piece rail anchor for use in preventing longitudinal creep of railroad rails. 'The device grips the rail and prevents creep in a direction from the anchor toward an adjacent tie by pressing against a vertical side of the tie.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application entitled Rail Anchor, Ser. No. 476,972, filed Aug. 3, 1965, now abandoned.

The anchors of the prior art are represented by the patents to Liebenthal, United States Patent No. 3,044,709, and Fee, United States Patent No. 3,102,690. The anchors of the prior art are not capable of extended installation, removal and reinstallation because the gripping surfaces become beveled, smashed, and otherwise Worn prematurely. This is particularly true in the case of rail anchors, such as that disclosed in the Fee patent, where only a narrow shoulder is provided to grip the edge of the rail. The shoulder has a tendency to become rounded and worn in the process of installation and removal. Moreover, the anchors of the prior art tend to minimize the gripping surface in engagement with the rail. More particularly, the gripping surface in engagement with the rail is but a portion of the cross-sectional dimension of the hooked or finger portion of the anchor in the case of both the Liebenthal and Fee anchors.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a rail anchor capable of extended installation, removal, and reinstallation.

It is a further object to provide a reusable rail anchor wherein the gripping surfaces do not become smashed, beveled, rounded, or otherwise worn during the process of installation and removal.

And it is also an object to provide a rail anchor in which the full cross-sectional dimension of the hook or gripping finger portion engages the base flange of the rail.

Each of the objects is fulfilled by the specific embodiments which appear in FIGS. 1-6 wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view ofv one embodiment of the invention and shows the relationship between the anchor, the rail, and the tie when the anchor is installed;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the rail anchor shown in FIG. 1 and also shows the relationship between the .rail and anchor when the anchor is installed;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 4

and shows the relationship between the rail and the anchor when the anchor is installed; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 66 of FIG. 5.

One form of the invention is shown in FIGS. 1-3 and appears generally at 10 in FIG. 1. It includes a body portion 11, a toe portion 12, and a gripping finger 13. The body 11 is generally channel-shaped as best seen in FIG. 3. It consists of a web 14 and two integrally formed flanges 15a and 15b extending generally perpendicularly from web 14. Both flanges 15a and'15b extend in the same direction from web 14 to thereby form the channel-shaped cross section.

Toe 12 includes an upstanding portion 16 that extends integrally from the web 14 generally perpendicularly thereto. The plane of upstanding portion 16 is perpendicular to flanges 15a and 15b. Upstanding portion 16 should extend at least one-half the edge height H, of the base flange F, of rail R, as shown in FIG. 2. Toe 12 also includes extension 17 which provides a surface parallel to web 14 for assistance during installation of the anchor 10'. Extension 17 is not critical, however, and may be eliminated. It contributes to the prevention of Wear on upstanding portion 16 during installation and removal. It will be recognized that flanges 15a and 15b terminate at toe 12 and, as a result, toe 12 is not flanged.

Gripping finger 13 is formed integrally from web 14 and extends therefrom at the end opposite toe 12. It consists of an upstanding portion 18 and a generally cylindrical portion 19. Upstanding portion 18 is formed integrally from web 14 and is perpendicular thereto and also perpendicular to flanges 15a and 15b. As best seen in FIG. 2, cylindrical portion 19 extends integrally from upstanding portion 18 and substantially circumferentially toward toe 12 and web 14. It terminates at 20 above web 14 in a plane substantially perpendicular to flanges 15a and 15b. Like toe 12, in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3, gripping finger 13 is not flanged.

Gripping finger 13 is resilient. It must be formed so that when relaxed it assumes a position with its terminating edge 20 a distance from web 14 substantially less than the height of base flange F, at its point of contact with edge 20 when the anchor is installed. Thus, when anchor 10 is driven into place on rail R, base flange F, is wedged between web 14 and edge 20 of gripping finger 13 which is spread away from web 14 against the resiliency of gripping finger 13 by base flange F. The resiliency of gripping finger 13 is shown schematically in FIG. 2 where its position with respect to web 14- prior to installation, as shown in phantom.

It will be noted that upstanding portion 18 of gripping finger 13 extends a distance generally equal to the edge height H, of flange F. And the distance between upstanding portion 16 (of toe 12) and upstanding portion 18 (of gripping finger 13) is greater than the width W, of the base flange F. Accordingly, the anchor can accommodate rails of varying base flange widths and, moreover, the stress on gripping finger 13 is distributed equally throughout the length thereof when it is biased upon installation. In other words, there is no localized stress at the juncture of web 14 and upstanding portion 18 when installed, as would be the case if the distance between upstanding portions 16 and 18 was less than the width W, of the base flange F.

Anchor 10 is preferably stamped from spring steel to form a one-piece anchor blank. Flanges 15a and 15b, toe 12 and gripping finger 13 are then bent into the form shown under high temperature. Accordingly, the thickness of toe 12, gripping finger 13 and flange 15 corresponds to the thickness of Web 14.

Toe 12 and gripping finger 13 are substantially equal in width to web 14.

As best seen in FIG. 1, the anchor is installed beneath the base flange F, of a railroad rail with web 14 in contact with the bottom surface of the base flange. The anchor is positioned with flange 15a adjacent tie T, and toe 12, Web 14 and gripping finger 13 grip rail R. Longitudinal creep of rail R, is therefore prevented in the direction toward tie T, since anchor 10 is fixed to rail R, and cannot move toward tie T, because flange 15a prevents such movement.

Installation is accomplished by driving the anchor 10 into place by blows against the upstanding portion 18 of gripping finger 13. A lifting action may be employed adjacent web 14 beneath toe 12 to aid in elevating toe 12 into the position shown in FIG. 2.

A second embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 4-6. The embodiment is characterized by the divergent or flaring gripping finger which engages the rail.

With reference to FIGS. 4-6, the second embodiment, shown generally at 30 in FIG. 4, includes a body portion 31, a toe 32 and a gripping finger or hook portion 33. Body portion 31 is generally channel-shaped and thus includes web 34 and flanges 35a and 35b. It will be recognized that each of the above components of the anchor 30 are integrally formed from a single anchor blank.

Toe 32 includes upstanding portion 36 which serves as a shoulder against which rail R is seated. Upstanding portion 36 is generally perpendicular to both web 34 and flanges 35. It extends a distance of about one-half the edge thickness or height H, or rail R as best seen in FIG. 5.

Toe 32 also includes a protruding portion 37 which is formed integrally with upstanding portion 36, is spaced from upstanding portion 36 and extends above the edge height H, or edge thickness of the flange F, of rail R. Protruding portion 37 serves as an aid in removing the anchor 30 from the rail R. It provides a relatively exposed portion of the anchor 30 which may be struck with a hammer or other tool to thereby drive the anchor 30 downward and to the right (as viewed in FIG. out of gripping relationship with rail R.

Gripping finger 33 includes an elbow portion 38 and a terminal portion 39. Elbow portion 38 is an integral extension of body portion 31 and the channel configuration is retained. Thus elbow portion 38 includes a web and two flanges and is generally arcuately, channel-shaped. As best seen in FIG. 5, elbow portion 38 extends arcuately above Web 34 in a direction generally opposite to the direction of extension of flanges 35 from web 34.

Terminal portion 39 consists of a divergence of the flanges of elbow portion 38 into one plane to thereby define a gripping edge 40 which overlies web 34. Thus terminal portion 39 does not retain the channel-shaped characteristic of the body portion 31 and elbow portion 38.

Gripping finger 33 isformed so that the distance from shoulder 36 to the web of elbow portion 38 is greater than the width W, of rail R. In addition, gripping finger 33 is formed so that, when not gripping the rail, the distance from gripping edge 40 to web 34 is less than the thickness of the base flange at the point of contact between gripping edge 40 and base flange F, when the anchor is installed. Thus, when driven into position on rail R, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, gripping edge is forced away from web 34 by base flange F, and elbow portion 38 carries a considerable bending moment. Gripping finger 33, accordingly, grips or pinches rail R, between gripping edge 40 and web 34.

Gripping edge 40 is preferably beveled so that, when engaging the rail, it coincides with the plane defined by the upper surface of base flange F. Thus, as seen in FIG. 5, the surface of edge 40 which extends the thickness of the terminal portion 39, is completely engaged with base flange F, to create a maximum frictional force at the engagement.

One significant advantage of the embodiment of FIGS. 4-6 resides in the length of gripping edge 40 made possible by the flaring or diverging characteristic of terminal portion 39. Because of the diverging characteristics substantially the full cross-sectional dimension of the anchor is utilized to engage the base flange F, at gripping edge 40. In other words, the length of gripping edge 40, or what may be regarded as the maximum width of terminal portion 39, is substantially equal to the width of web 34' plus the width of flanges 35. Thus the length of gripping edge 40 is substantially equal to the sum of the width of web 34, the width of flange 35a and the Width of flange 35b.

In addition to providing a greater bearing surface between the upper surface of base flange and the anchor than the anchors of the prior art, the increased length of gripping edge also provides greater stability. The greater stability resides in the decreased possibility of twisting the anchor about a longitudinal axis running the length of web 34, when in service. Thus when the anchor is used in abutting relationship with a tie which abutts the flange 35a at a point below web 34, as the rail tends to creep, the anchor is subjected to a force which tends to twist it about the longitudinal axis designated above. That tendency to twist is counteracted by gripping edge 40 which, in the present invention extends perpendicularly beyond the longitudinal axis a greater distance than the anchors of the prior art. The present invention provides a greater lever arm which counteracts the tendency to twist. It is accordingly more stable.

The embodiment of FIGS. 4-6, like the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3, is preferably formed of spring steel. The anchor may be formed from a rectangular blank bent into the shape shown under heat and pressure. It may also be molded in the shape shown, the critical features being the configuration of the anchor as described above.

Both embodiments provide a rail anchor which exceeds the American Railroad Engineering Association standard of no creep under a load of 2500 lbs. per anchor.

The embodiment of FIGS. 4-6 is driven into gripping engagement with the rail in the same manner as described above in connection with the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3.

I claim:

1. A one-piece rail anchor for gripping the base flange of a railroad track which comprises a channel-shaped 0 body portion; a toe; and a gripping finger:

(a) said body portion consisting of a web and a pair of spaced flanges formed integrally therewith and extending in the same direction therefrom;

(b) said toe including an upstanding portion formed integrally with said web and extendingsubstantially perpendicularly therefrom in a direction opposite the direction of extension of said flanges and in a plane substantially perpendicular thereto;

(c) said gripping finger being formed integrally with said body portion at the end thereof opposite said toe and consisting of an albow portion and a terminal portion formed integrally therewith,

(1) said elbow portion being generally arcuately, channel-shaped, extending integrally from said web and said flanges in an arcuate direction generally opposite the direction of extension of said flanges,

(2) said terminal portion overlying said web and consisting of said web and said flanges diverged into substantially one plane to thereby define a gripping edge.

2. The rail anchor of claim 1 wherein said gripping edge defines a plane coincidental with the upper surface of said base flange when said anchor grips said base flange of said track.

3. The rail anchor of claim 1 wherein said upstanding portion extends a distance from said web equal to about one-half the edge thickness of said base flange of said rail and said toe further includes a protruding portion spaced from said upstanding portion, formed integrally therewith and extending beyond said edge of said base flange of said rail.

4. A one-piece rail anchor for gripping the base flange of a railroad track which comprises: a channel-shaped body; a toe; and a gripping finger;

(a) said body consisting of a web and a pair of spaced flanges formed integrally therewith and extending in the same direction therefrom;

(b) said toe including an upstanding portion formed integrally with said web and extending substantially perpendicularly therefrom in a direction opposite the direction of extension of said flanges in a plane substantially perpendicular thereto for a distance substantially equal to the height of said base flange at formed integrally with said upstanding portion of said gripping finger and extending in a substantially cylindrical plane therefrom toward said toe and said web and terminating over said web in a plane substantially perpendicular to said flanges;

(d) the width and thickness of said toe and said gripping finger being substantially equal to the width and thickness respectively of said Web; and

(e) the distance from said upstanding portion of said toe to said upstanding portion of said gripping finger being greater than the width of said base flange.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS the edge thereof; 15

(c) said gripping finger consisting of an upstanding 3 portion formed integrally from said web at the end 63 601 3/1953 e e a 23 thereof opposite said toe portion and extending sub- :9 9/1963 s i 2:

stantially perpendicularly therefrom in a direction opposite the direction of extension of said flanges in a plane substantially perpendicular thereto for a distance substantially equal to the height of said base flange at the edge thereof, and a cylindrical portion ARTHUR L. LA POINT, Primary Examiner.

R. A. BERTSCH, Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN ONE-PIECE RAIL ANCHOR FOR GRIPPING THE BASE FLANGE OF A RAIL ROAD TRACK WHICH COMPRISES A CHANNEL-SHAPED BODY PORTION; A TOE; AND A GRIPPING FINGER: (A) SAID BODY PORTION CONSISTING OF A WEB AND A PAIR OF SPACED FLANGES FORMED INTEGRALLY THEREWITH AND EXTENDING IN THE SAME DIRECTION THEREFROM; (B) SAID TOE INCLUDING AN UPSTANDING PORTION FORMED INTEGRALLY WITH SAID WEB AND EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR THEREFROM IN A DIRECTION OPPOSITE THE DIRECTION OF EXTENSION OF SAID FLANGES AND IN A PLANE SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR THERETO; (C) SAID GRIPPING FINGER BEING FORMED INTEGRALLY WITH SAID BODY PORTION AT THE END THEREOF OPPOSITE SAID TOE AND CONSISTING OF AN ALBOW PORTION AND A TERMINAL PORTION FORMED INTEGRALLY THEREWITH, (1) SAID ELBOW PORTION BEING GENERALLY ARCUATELY, CHANNEL-SHAPED, EXTENDING INTEGRALLY FROM SAID WEB AND SAID FLANGES IN AN ARCUATE DIRECTION GENERALLY OPPOSITE THE DIRECTION OF EXTENSION OF SAID FLANGES, (2) SAID TERMINAL PORTION OVERLYING SAID WEB AND CONSISTING OF SAID WEB AND SAID FLANGES DIVERGED INTO SUBSTANTIALLY ONE PLANE TO THEREBY DEFINE A GRIPPING EDGE. 